Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Clearwater, FL 33761

Clearwater: median income $74,728, home value $289,700, $235/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mesa, AZ 85205 82%1,756$73,283$339,900$256 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 79%1,016$84,775$343,000$240 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents · more renters
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 78%446$71,447$305,700$235 less walkable
Tucson, AZ 85715 78%1,699$85,069$370,000$219 pricier homes ($80K more) · more single-family homes
Mesa, AZ 85206 77%1,756$75,607$357,900$239 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Derby, CT 06418 76%1,068$78,542$258,500$231 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · more renters
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 75%1,292$93,847$323,000$191 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Niles, IL 60714 75%1,009$75,800$358,900$284 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Willoughby, OH 44094 74%943$78,772$259,900$187 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 74%907$86,453$362,800$239 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · less walkable
Thorofare, NJ 08086 73%923$97,413$291,300$209 smaller · younger residents
Pikesville, MD 21208 73%856$90,131$337,900$194 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 73%468$71,723$413,800$273 pricier homes ($124K more) · older residents · less walkable
Barre, VT 05641 72%1,252$76,855$253,200$203 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Northampton, PA 18067 72%967$93,652$282,200$197 younger residents · more single-family homes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 72%459$85,247$427,400$281 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · older residents
Racine, WI 53406 72%1,055$82,792$289,700$188 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Crestwood, IL 60418 72%982$75,752$195,200$174 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Agawam, MA 01001 71%1,124$75,342$295,700$249 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 71%1,099$100,027$337,300$242 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents
Coplay, PA 18037 71%965$83,542$256,600$193 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brookhaven, PA 19015 70%919$82,450$246,700$238 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19116 70%943$67,535$346,600$249 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · younger residents
Randallstown, MD 21133 70%854$80,480$322,800$194 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Ocean City, MD 21842 70%837$79,876$447,700$437 pricier homes ($158K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.